Council Member Inna Vernikov was arraigned on Nov. 2 after she allegedly brought a gun to a protest at Brooklyn College last month.
Photo courtesy of John McCarten/NYC Council Media Unit
New York City Council Member Inna Vernikov was arraigned Thursday morning in Kings County Criminal Court after she turned herself in for allegedly bringing a gun to a rally at Brooklyn College last month.
Vernikov, a Republican who represents Brooklyn’s 48th District, attended the pro-Palestinian rally on Oct. 12 to support the Jewish and Israeli students counter-protesting the event. Photos of the Council Member posted online after the event appeared to show her Smith & Wesson nine-millimeter pistol tucked into her waistband, and the NYPD later said a portion of the firearm was “protruding from the front portion of her pants.”
Vernikov does have a legal license to carry a firearm, but New York State law prohibits individuals from openly-carrying them, with only concealed weapons being permitted. Guns are also not allowed at “sensitive locations,” including at protests or on college campuses.
Backlash on social media was swift, with many calling for Vernikov’s resignation as her actions were seen as a direct violation of state gun laws.
The following day, Vernikov turned herself in to the NYPD and surrendered both her gun and permit — which she had obtained in July — after she was charged with criminal possession of a firearm.
The Council Member has not responded to Brooklyn Paper’s requests for comment regarding the incident.
At Thursday’s arraignment, Vernikov’s defense attorney Arthur Aidala said that despite the plethora of pictures and video shared on various social media platforms that appeared to show the Council Member with a gun clearly displayed, prosecutors for the case needed to provide definitive proof that the images were not digitally altered.
“You need proof beyond a reasonable doubt that somebody committed a…
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